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Faith does not just mean to be obedient, to handle without understanding what is
happening. As a believer, I am expected to try to understand what is going on. I have a
free will, the highest mind quality. Jesus himself sometimes had to ask the question :
" Why ? "
1. The parent's duty :
In Luke 2,49, we read : " Why (how is it) that you sought me ? Don't you know
that I must be about my Father's business…" During the celebration of the
Bar-Mistsva, the twelve years old boy became " son of the commandment ",
and he was integrated in the adult's world, passing a new stage of his life.
Jesus had to clarify his real function as God's son, as the Saviour. His earthly parents
did not really understand what ih meant, but they had to give their child (as all parents
have to do), space enough to grow and to become mature, to be able to make his own choice,
to take a personal decision. The child also needs to be respected in developping his own
relationship with God. Parents who act in an overprotecting way are an obstacle in this
process.
2. The believer's life :
Matthew 8,26 says : " Why are you afraid, o you of little faith ? " The
disciples saw Jesus mighty power as He stilled the tempest. Their lack of faith caused Him
pain, and He knew their debates about whom was the greatest and the best among them. He
also knew their many doubts and their unbelief.
Peter is a living example : " O you of little faith, why did you doubt ? "
(Matthew 14,31). Peter could walk on the water, and then begun to sink. Jesus streched
forth his hand to rescue and to help him. Peter still had a long way to go to reach a
level of greater faith.
Matthew 9,4, relates an other event : " Why do you think evil in your hearts ?
" Once again, the scribes saw Jesus as one who blasphemed when He was talking to
the man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed, unable to move and to walk. Jesus said, in a
provocative manner : " Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven ".
Only God has the power to forgive sins and to cure and to heal from all illness : Jesus
was able to realize this double action, but the religious authorities of His time did not
recognize Him as the Saviour and as the godly Doctor.
John 8,46 : " Which of you convinth me of sin ? And if I say the truth, why don't
you believe me ? "
The Jews are not worldviewish, they are narrow-minded. Jesus told them that the devil was
their father, because they imagined that God's election was a privilege just reserved to
them, and that the covenant was a right to keep, not a duty to share. They were expected
to proclaim the Good News of salvation, of God's uniqueness .
It is so easy to be a tribe, to remain a sect, and not a Church in motion. It is the
believer's responsability (his privilege, in fact), to bring this message to all nation,
tribe and teach them…
Jesus asked the same question in Matthew 15,3 : "Why do you also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition ? "
The scribes and the pharisies are in trouble with Him, because His disciples transgress
the old tradition : they don't wash their hands when they are eating bread. Jesus means
that rites (washing hands) are not a substitute for rights (to be honest, loving and
caring).
Matthew 26,10, tells the well known story of Marie of Bethany : " Why trouble you
the woman ? For she had wrought a good work upon me "
Jesus does not accept the indignation and the resentment of the minds of the disciples.
They were blaming her and censured her action. She was having an alabaster box of very
precious ointment, and poured it on His head ! They just could see the waste ! It must
greatly trouble and hurt her to meet with such unfair treatment from the disciples of
Christ.
She feels pain and uneasiness because she shed tears and perfume to do honour to Christ !
He accepted her gift !
Luke 24,38 shows Christ talking with His disciples after His resurrection : " Why
are you troubled ? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? " He means :
Don'be discouraged, I am still alive !
They caused Christ to feel alone, abandonned, in Luke 22,46 : " Why are you
sleeping?" He is in Gethsemany, feeling isolated, in deep loneliness, having no
one of His friends to confort Him, to stand by Him.
Maria Magdalena appears in John 20,15 : " Woman, why do you weep ? Whom seekest
you ? " She was weeping for the loss of Him, but she was inquiring after Him, if
anyone saw Him removed from the place where He was carried. She supposed Him to be the
gardener : she realy loved Him, with all her heart. His absence, the loss of His presence
for a while sharpened the desire after Him, and made His advent the more welcome !
3. Christ Himself :
People do maltreat Him : " Why do you beat me ? If I have spoken evil, bear
witness of the evil ; but if well, why smitest you me ? " (John 18,23). After
His betrayel, He was brought before the council, before an officer of Caiphas, the High
Priest. Jesus had said nothing contrary to the truth, and He did nothing against good
manners.
In Matthew 27,46, He goes trough a very painful event : " About the ninth hour
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying : Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? That is to say : My
God, my God, why hast you forsaken me ?… "
It is three o'clock in the afternoon, which was about the time of the slaying and offering
of the daily sacrifice, which was an eminent type of Christ. The time had come to kill the
passover ; and also time of great distress : a time of deep silence during the three hours
of darkness, bearing all His soul sufferings. He was in conflict with the powers of
darkness, in the anguish of His soul. He was obedient, but suffering so much. He expressed
strong faith and confidence, but also deepness of pain !
Let's see a last text in Acts 1,11 : " You, men of Galilee, why stand you gazing
into heaven ? " They could have seen His presence by the eye of faith. They hope
He would be at their side. They desired after His corporel presence.
They should go to Jerusalem, and abide there, as Christ had ordered, to receive the power
of the Holy Spirit, to be able to preach the crucifixion, and His resurrection !
He revealed Himself to be a forrunner, the judge, the One who prepares a place, and who
makes intercession for us. He, who is soon coming back, He who accepts our questions, all
our " Why " !
Jean-Michel MARTIN |
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